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Alecia Langlois holds Alice, a Barred Owl, at the Roaring Brook Nature center’s flight enclosure. The center is anxious for its new facilities, but hopes Alice will be well enough to release back into the wild.Photo by John Fitts

By John Fitts

Roaring Brook Nature Center is in the midst of a “Building Roaring Brook’s Future” capital campaign that would expand its footprint approximately 32 percent. The improvements include a greatly expanded front entrance area complete with kiosk and garden, an extended back porch and outdoor classroom area, a new indoor classroom that will showcase the center’s longhouse, a wildlife rehabilitation clinic, a sun-filled showcase turtle pond and new raptor enclosures. Additionally the flow between all areas would be greatly enhanced.

“It will be better for the animals, better for the public and better for the staff,” said Jay Kaplan, director at Roaring Brook Nature Center.

See more at roaringbrook.org and click on the Building Our Future link on the home page, call 860-693-0263 or mail donations to 70 Gracey Road and be sure to notate Capital project.

ATLANTA, GA — Colin Gurry of Canton, CT, has earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Gurry was among approximately 3,200 undergraduate and graduate students who received degrees during Georgia Tech’s 252nd Commencement exercises on December 16-17, 2016, at the McCamish Pavilion.

Goodwin College President’s List, Fall 2016

EAST HARTFORD, CT — Goodwin College’s President’s List for the Fall 2016 Session includes the following local students, all of whom scored a perfect 4.0 GPA. To qualify for the President’s List, a student must be enrolled in at least six credits at Goodwin College and earn perfect marks in all classes.

Canton Schools superintendent Kevin D. Case has proposed a 2017-18 budget of $25,629,086, which would represent a $462,388 or 1.84 percent increase in spending over 2016-17 levels.

With the uncertainty whether the state will continue to fund education at its current levels, a $1-million plus increase in “fixed costs,” a state law stipulating that towns keep total budget increases under 2.5 percent and $1.6 million in administrator requests, educators said it was an especially difficult budget process.

“This has been one of the most challenging budgets I’ve put together in my 10 and a half years in Canton,” Case said.

Among the cuts in the proposed budget would be the reduction of 12 full-time equivalent positions in non-certified staff. Case said specific positions have yet to be determined but those would include positions such as paraprofessionals and tutors.

“It’s a hard decision because we are not over-staffed by any means,” Case said. “These are valuable staff members – very, very difficult decision for me.” … Continue Reading

Canton Chief Administrative Officer Robert H. Skinner has proposed a town 2017-18 spending plan of $10,589,284, an increase of $252,200 or 2.44 percent over approved 2016-17 spending levels.

The operations budget is proposed at $9,467,568 while capital improvement funding is pegged at $1,121,716.

A driving factor in the proposal is the state’s mandate that caps municipal expense increases to just 2.5 percent. (Just a few items are excluded).

“Obviously there were sacrifices that had to be made to meet the cap,” Skinner wrote in his budget introduction. “That is why almost half the departments have decreases in their bottom lines.”

Additionally there are no significant new initiatives in the plan, Skinner noted.

While there is a special revenue funded increase in hours for the recreation coordinator, additional hours for the building official and the combination of two, part-time library positions to create a full-time one, there are no “new” positions in the budget.

Ulrich Haury (1834-1903) was born in Reinpfalz, Germany, one of seven children. He attended public school in his native country and served six years in its army. He is one of many immigrants who made Collinsville a vibrant, and even somewhat cosmopolitan community, in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Haury came to this country in 1862 and almost immediately found work in the plow stocking department of The Collins Company. In 1871 he started in the grocery business with another resident of the village and became quite prosperous. Eventually, his son William joined the firm. He later became vice president of the Collinsville Savings Society, served eight years on the town “board of relief,” and was nominated as a Democrat for state representative, although he was defeated at the polls. In his later years, he was much sought after for business advice.

Haury was a stern looking man with a long goatee. He was described as having “a jovial disposition, generous nature and Christian character, and was held in respect by all his townsmen.” His means enabled him to dispense charity, which he did without fanfare. He was a “most indulgent father and kind husband, ever devoted to his family circle.” … Continue Reading

COLLINSVILLE — On Saturday, as Shirley Scarpino opened the doors to the Village Sweet Shoppe for the final time, a group of musically gifted area residents visited the store and sang a personalized rendition of the famous pop song, “I Want Candy.”

Late last year Scarpino announced she would be closing the store, which had been in business for 30 years. She initially operated in Riverton, and in 2004 moved to River Street in Collinsville.

COLLINSVILLE – The owner of 5 River Road has filed an application for a used car dealership but said he continues to market the property for other potential uses.

Stephen Roberto has filed an application at the land use office, proposing the use of a used car dealership with 30 spaces for vehicles, 7 parking spaces, two dark-sky compliant light fixtures and the ability to use two existing bays for limited repair and inspection.

The application comes after a Burlington resident seeking to run a used car dealership decided not to pursue the business. The proposed use was already controversy but the withdrawal came amidst a flurry of controversy. (See this week’s Valley Press for more details).

Now Roberto is pursuing a special exception that would allow the use on the property, The proposal is slated for a public hearing on Feb. 15. However, Roberto is also entertaining other proposals for the property, which is “offered for lease.” Currently Dentfix Express operates at the site.

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Upcoming Events

The Canton Food Bank is accepting fresh produce (as well as non-perishables of course!) every Tuesday from 7:30am-9:30am. Please keep them, and those less fortunate in our community, in mind as your backyard gardens begin to bloom and produce a bountiful harvest!